Lip Man 1

I honestly don't think they'll be competing in 2027 because JR really won't do much to improve the team until a new CBA is figured out. So they'll be stuck where they are until after it ends.

Ishbia at worst takes over in 2033. Compete by my definition means you have a very good chance to at least, at least post a winning season. Do that and you generally give yourself a shot with the expanded playoffs. From 1981-2006 for example the Sox had 16 winning seasons in 26 years.

I can tell you from a high ranked person in the front office if they have their way Schiffren isn't going anywhere. They are very pleased with his work. (Their words not mine). Don't know what Stone's future is but getting Plesac involved was an excellent move. The question with him is would he want to leave the MLBN? Personally as a broadcaster myself I don't think Schiffren has improved that much in year #2. Doing play by play for baseball is an art form, a real skill. It is so different from doing football, basketball and hockey. I was told by both Pat Hughes and the late Dave Wills it is different from anything else a broadcaster may have done before.

That's because winning costs money. JR by the way said himself after the Sox won the division in 1983 that he didn't realize how much winning costs because after the season a lot of the players wanted raises or new contracts.

I hope when the Sox get good under Ishbia that they realize you have to pay the price for good pitching and you better have it in spades. Particularly starting pitching. If you have six even seven reliable guys you can rotate them and have these "phantom" injuries (LOL) to give them a break during the season without seriously hurting your chances to win.

Coming in 2026:

You are right, there is no hope until a new CBA is reached and Ishbia takes over. I wish that wasn't the case but that is reality.

His defense needs a lot of work in my opinion. Also just my opinion but the Sox need to stop trying to make seemingly all their guys into "utility" players supposedly able to play multiple positions. How about becoming competent, even very good at ONE position? Put together a solid lineup/order and stay with it.

Just a few years ago Sox fans paid for billboards to be put up at various locations telling JR to sell the team. Cost around three grand if I remember right.

Because the pathetic division by and large still has FAR more talent, especially the Tigers, than the White Sox.

The ghosts of Al Smith, Jim Landis and Mike Hershberger. 😆 Seriously does it even matter?

That is true but JR's position in the 93-94 impasse and then the White Flag Trade severely impacted the perception of the franchise by the fan base. Even in 2000 fans were reluctant to get on board still feeling betrayed and angry over his actions.

Absolutely no question that a top notch ballpark and entertainment area are needed today but let's not also forget that winning makes up for a lot of issues. If the Sox solve that one, the other things will fall into place.

This dysfunctional organization simply can't get out of their own way can they? 🤡

Episode 4 (I think this is the final episode):

Stranger things have happened but keep in mind the Fire owner said he'd pay for the new stadium himself. Which is something the Sox have not said they would do... not even say they'd contribute a substancial amount towards it. Based on published comments from politicians that is a deal breaker par excellence. Unless that happens a new stadium is a dream for the Sox. (And no they aren't moving to Portland, Montreal, Charlotte, Salt Lake City, New Orleans, Nome, London, Istanbul or Calcutta...😆)

Oh I know the owners will never again agree to open their books, I'd suggest under ANY circumstances. Just like the MLBPA will never agree to a salary cap.

Understandable although Ishbia may also want to buy and develop the land around the current park and remove some of the parking lots. But regardless of where the Sox try to go to, or want to go to, unless they are willing to pay a very substancial portion of the price of a new stadium they aren't going anywhere since they aren't getting the financial backing from the state and city based on the overall current published comments from the politicians. That could change of course but I don't see that happening right now with everything going on in D.C. impacting individual states and cities.

Until and unless the owners agree to open their books to an independent auditor (like they did in 1994 and swore they would never do that again after that person showed how they were cooking the books to show losses) we will never really know what is going on. I did see a story yesterday where the Braves who do have to open their books because they are publicly owned pulled in over 650 million dollars in revenue last year from the team and the entertainment district that they own.

Yes. They had it ranked as the third hardest in baseball.

Saw a story today where the WNBAPA is gearing up for a lockout/ labor impasse with the owners come this November. And as a side note saw where in a players poll the Sky tied for the worst team/organization to play for. They fit right in with the other organizations representing the city it seems.

Sox Machine with a detailed breakdown of Sox possible moves: https://soxmachine.com/2025/07/taking-inventory-of-the-white-soxs-trade-assets-as-the-deadline-approaches

And they'll lose 100 games next season as well.

That would be SO typical White Sox, but the MLBPA will never agree to a salary cap.

I spent many nights and days at that place and always considered it a very nice ballpark. Comiskey had its faults just like Wrigley, Fenway, Tiger Stadium, Forbes Field et al but overall it was a good place to watch a game from. And it was a hell of a lot better than the cookie cutter stadiums that opened in the 1970's. Watch the documentary "Last Comiskey" on You Tube. It will give you a proper perspective.